The Director of Public Instruction (DPI) has directed the government-aided Arogyamatha Higher Secondary School at Kottathara in Attappady to readmit to Class 9 a tribal girl of Upper Agali settlement who had dropped out of school after Class 8.
The DPI sought a detailed explanation from the school authorities for denying readmission to Vineetha, who wanted to continue her education this academic year after a break of one year. Acting on a petition filed by Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society project director P.E. Usha, the DPI has warned of strong action if there is any delay in facilitating readmission.
The directive followed a detailed report submitted by the divisional education officer of Mannarkkad detailing how the school authorities flouted rules related to tribal rights and right to education.
“During our outreach programme we found that a girl in Upper Agali had dropped out. It took several days to convince Vineetha of the need to continuing education.
“Then we took her to the headmaster, who expressed doubts about her calibre and denied admission,” said Ms. Usha.
“While rules allow readmission of tribal students even without transfer certificate and other formalities, the headmaster even forced Vineetha to read a newspaper in the presence of teachers. Citing the difficulty she had in reading the news reports, the headmaster denied admission.
Similar instances
“There are similar instances across the State. It was only recently that a school headmaster in Nilambur showered verbal abuses on three tribal children who sought readmission. It was only after an intervention of the Education Department that the readmission became possible,” said Ms. Usha.
According to project coordinator S. Karthika, who helped 86 tribal dropouts in Attappady continue their studies, the schools still remain opposed to the concept of readmissions. “They even create separate divisions to distinguish tribal children with poor academic records from brighter students from other communities.
